11-16-2012, 11:03 PM
Quote:Thank you first off for the detailed break down of the composition and weight of your scale - I've had a hard time finding data of this sort so it's very interesting to read.Quote:They describe scale armour as being 30-40% heavier than lorica segmentata. Is that realistic, or a product of their overestimation of scale thickness?
I don't agree with that estimation. My Matt Luke make segmentata is about 20 pounds. My scale armor that I just finished, with 3300 (DSC made) scales, Carpow overlapping side stitching, linen thread and backing weights right at 10 pounds. The coverage for this armor goes past the groin and even has attached short sleeves. The DSC scales which are quite thin at .36mm and weigh 1 gram each. Doing some simple math, by adjusting the thickness of the scale to .5mm the weight per scale increased 35%, multiplied by the number of scales (everything else will weigh the same). The scale armor would weigh 12.5 pounds. This is well below the Legmentata weight.
How thick are the plates on your segmentata? There's been some debate about the original thickness of the original plates as well - Fuentes in his JRMES paper on the topic argued that reconstructions were often too thick and heavy and provided his own weight of 5.5kg (about 12lbs). I'm assuming you would not agree with that, but is there any particular reason to disbelieve Fuentes?